Blaming "fashion and nudity" for provoking sexual violence, Azmi went on to support Bhagwat´s statement that rapes happened only in "India" and not in "Bharat".

Azmi also suggested laws to "stop young boys and girls from roaming around in the night" and the appointment of "rural women" to lead the censor board for films instead of "modern women" like actor-activist Shabana Azmi.

"Women should not venture out with men who are not relatives. What is the need for roaming at night with men who are not relatives? This should be stopped," he said.

The comments came in the wake of a national outcry over the gruesome gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman on a moving bus in Delhi last month as the victim succumbed to her injuries.

The comments sparked a furore as people expressed their views on social media slamming the statements.

Even Azmi´s daughter-in-law, actress Ayesha Takia came out on Twitter to distance herself from the comments and termed them "regressive".

"Comments made by anyone,even sumone close to me, when they r regressive,, they do not reflect my thoughts n mindset (sic)," she said.

"Im an individual n have my own mentality which doesn´t match any regressive way of thinking at all! (sic)," she added.